When you think of online subscriptions probably the last thing you would think to do is pay an annual fee for an e-card service, but that’s exactly what Hallmark are now offering.

At first it sounds crazy to pay for something that is a freely available at other websites, but if you send a lot of cards and want access to some well-known characters and designs, it may be worth the $9.99 a year Hallmark are charging.

For your money you get to send an unlimited number of e-cards. Those cards can be personalized and you get access to Hallmark’s premium collection which includes Star Wars, Madagascar, The Office, Maxine, and hoops@yoyo. Those premium e-cards usually cost $0.99 each.

Shelley Matthews, Hallmark product manager, said:

We know people enjoy connecting with their friends and family by using e-cards featuring their favorite characters, movies and music … This plan makes it easy and convenient to send those e-cards when they’re needed. The cards can be selected ahead of time and sent out right on time.

As well as unlimited e-cards the subscription also comes with a reminder service. Through that you can store names, addresses, and important dates associated with each. You then receive reminders before those dates to ensure you never miss sending a card to someone.

Matthew’s Opinion
Printed cards are expensive to buy and then you have to pay for postage on top of that to send the card out. E-cards are a very cheap alternative, but if you receive an e-card don’t you think it’s a lazy way out of taking the trouble to send you a “real” card?

If Hallmark updated this service to include a handful of real paper cards posted out too then it would be a very good value subscription. As it stands, $9.99 isn’t a bad price for unlimited e-cards, but I think it’s a limited market as I really don’t know anyone who regularly sends e-cards, do you? With paper prices always seeming to go up and cards priced at ridiculous levels in some cases I can see the e-card option becoming ever more tempting, though.